The Pole Academy

💦✨ Thirsty Thursday: Elva Edition ✨💦

This week we're shining the spotlight on Elva, a woman who is every bit as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. Her strength, kindness, encouragement, and passion for pole make her a true asset to the TPA family. And make no mistake—Elva doesn't just create art on the pole, Elva is Art. ✨

Elva began her pole journey in February 2023, just before her 30th birthday. What started as a simple "I'll just try Intro to Pole" quickly became a life-changing passion. One class a week turned into counting down the days until she could get back in the studio. Pole gave her joy, confidence, and strength—and the TPA community became a place she could truly call home.

After spending time in Asheville training with talented instructors and expanding her knowledge through aerial silks, sling, and other movement disciplines, Elva returned to Greenville with a diverse skill set and a fresh perspective. She brings technical knowledge, creativity, adaptability, and a genuine passion for helping students succeed. Whether she's breaking down a challenging skill, refining technique, or celebrating a student's progress, Elva combines expertise with encouragement to help others grow with confidence. Her positivity is contagious, and her love for the sport shines through in every class she teaches.

Please help us show some love for Elva and welcome her to the TPA instructor team! ❤️✨

Elva's Humble Brags:
✨ Xpert Certified Levels 1 & 2
✨ 4 Years Pole Experience
✨ 3 Years Aerial Silks & Sling Experience
✨ BLS & ACLS CPR Certified

🚨 ThirstyThursday spotlight on our favorite feral cat, Gizmo And YESSSSS, GIZMO is the ART! 🐈‍⬛🔥

Gizmo began her pole journey in 2020 after spending nearly a decade dreaming about it. One Jenyne Butterfly performance later and the obsession was born. Since then, she has turned that passion into an incredible pole career filled with strength, creativity, bendy beauty, and low-flow magic. From spin pole passes to flexy trick variations, Gizmo moves in a way that is uniquely her own — wild, fluid, captivating, and just a little unhinged in the best way possible. Honestly? Very on brand for a feral cat and we love that for her 🖤

Since becoming an instructor in 2022, Gizmo has been helping students feel confident, capable, and welcome exactly as they are. She believes pole is for every body and every style, and you can feel that energy every time she teaches. Whether she’s encouraging someone through their first pole move or serving dramatic artistry on spin, she brings passion, patience, and chaos gremlin energy to the studio in equal measure ✨

Also… casual flex:

Certifications:

🎗XPERT Pole Level 1 & 2

Competitions: 

🏅PSO Nationals 2021

🥉3rd Place - PSO Virtual 2021 - Level 3 Dramatic

🏅PSO Triangle 2022

🥇1st Place - PSO Triangle 2023 - Level ⅘ Low-Flow

We are so lucky to have this spooky little powerhouse as part of our TPA family 🐾

Technique Tuesday: Buddy Grip, Strong Hold, Bicep Grip... Same Grip, Different Names! 💪 Pole Edition

Have you ever heard someone call it a Buddy Grip, Strong Hold, or Bicep Grip and wondered if they were talking about different things? Surprise—they're all referring to the same grip!

This grip creates a powerful connection between the arm and the pole by bringing the pole into the crook of the elbow and engaging the bicep, shoulder, back, and core to maintain position. While it can feel surprisingly secure once established, it requires active engagement throughout the entire body.

Buddy Grip is often used in climbs, hangs, dramatic poses, and strength-based transitions. It allows polers to create beautiful lines while reducing reliance on traditional hand grips. In the photos shown, you can see how versatile this hold can be—from elegant flexibility shapes to dynamic performance poses.

A few key reminders:
✨ Keep the shoulder engaged and away from the ear. ✨ Actively squeeze through the arm and upper body. ✨ Engage your core to help stabilize the position.
✨ Don't rely solely on the elbow pit—this grip is a full-body effort.

Like many pole grips, Buddy Grip can feel awkward at first. The good news? With practice, conditioning, and repetition, it becomes an incredibly useful tool to add to your pole vocabulary.

Have you learned it as Buddy Grip, Strong Hold, or Bicep Grip? Let us know what your instructor calls it! 👇💜